Wolf Weekly Wrap-Up

Wyoming Proposes to Increase Wolf Hunting Quotas in 2014: Wyoming agency officials have proposed to raise wolf hunting quotas from 26 in 2013 to a total of 43 in 2014. The new proposal is open for public comment through July and Wyoming’s Fish and Game Commission will vote on the proposed rule in during their July meeting in Dubois. If the hunting quotas are raised, they will only be in effect for one calendar year; hunting dates or hunting boundaries will not be affected by this change. Defenders and our conservation partners have already challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their premature removal of federal protections for wolves in Wyoming – a verdict is still pending.

Assessing Available Wolf Habitat in the Northeast: This week an important scientific study was made publically available which provides new information about the amount of available habitat for wolves in the northeastern United States. Scientists used geospatial mapping determine that there are over 29729.9 square miles of suitable habitat for wolves ranging from Maine to upstate New York. This amount of habitat could support over 1,300 wolves in the region. Defenders has long advocated for a careful examination of biological conditions, such as habitat and prey availability, to ensure they meet the requirements for wolf restoration; learn more about wolves in the Northeast.

Wolf Killed in Iowa is First Confirmed Wolf in State in 89 Years: Although the state of Iowa is not often mentioned with regard to wolves, this week news surfaced that a wolf was shot in Iowa’s Buchanan County. This is the first confirmed wolf to appear in the state in 89 years. And while this wolf’s death is unfortunate, it is an encouraging sign that wolves from northern packs are dispersing further south into their historic range. This incident also reminds us of why it is so critically important to maintain federal protection of wolves throughout most of the Lower 48. In these circumstances, federal protection could make all the difference as we all work to ensure recovery of wolves in unoccupied yet suitable habitat.

Calling Idaho Residents: Speak Up For Wolves Next Wednesday in Lewiston: Next Wednesday, May 14th, wildlife and wilderness advocates from throughout Idaho will convene in Lewiston to provide testimony to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) Commission in response to their new predation management plan which would enable the agency to kill up to 60 percent of the wolves living in the Middle Fork Zone of Frank Church Wilderness.

About 100 wolf supporters attended the rally, excited for the chance to speak up for wolves!

Less than six months after suffering the lethal effects of a state-hired trapper, packs in the remote Frank Church Wilderness – many of which have never seen a single human – face this even graver threat. If Idaho won’t let these wolves exist in the most remote wilderness in Idaho, where will they? If you’re an Idaho resident, we need your support! We hope you’ll join us to oppose IDFG’s egregious assault on wolves in the wilderness. The hearing starts at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, at 3316 16th St Lewiston, ID 83501. Wolf supporters will also be invited to a special gathering and tour at the Wolf Education and Research Center in nearby Winchester, Idaho that day of the hearing. We’ll be there to offer training on speaking at the public hearing and discuss wolf issues across the region.

Your Last Chance: Double your Donation to Help Save Idaho’s Wolves! We’re putting pressure on Idaho’s elected officials to stop their war on wolves every way we can: in the courts, on the ground, and in the media. If Governor Otter is going to use $400,000 taxpayer dollars this year to kills wolves – via his recently established wolf killing fund — we are going to raise $401,000 to stop him! Today is the last day that your donation to help protect Idaho’s wolves will be matched dollar for dollar by Defenders’ Board of Directors. Your donation will support our three-part strategy to stop the out of control wolf killings in Idaho.First, we have formally asked the U.S. Department of the Interior to reassess the status of wolves in the Northern Rockies under the Endangered Species Act in light of Idaho’s war on wolves. This is the first step towards regaining federal protection for these wolves, and we will continue to press for it. Second, we are reaching out to the people of Idaho to ask them to demand that their state officials stop knuckling under to forces of hatred. We know that Idahoans across the state do not support Governor Otter’s war on wolves. Third, our legal team is actively reviewing our litigation options, while our policy experts and scientists are working hard to fight the rampant misinformation on this issue. Help us raise $401,000 to protect Idaho’s wolves!

15 Responses to “Wolf Weekly Wrap-Up”

I’m 81 & on a fixed income & can’t get around I wish I could I wish I could go door to door at every domicile in the US and tell them the truth about wolves But the mindset of this country will not evolve beyond the deer, which they would hunt to extinction also if they could. And the govt would let them I don ‘t want to live long enough to see a country without wildlife

Governor Otter needs to be disbarred. He is an embarrassment to the Great State of Idaho. He also is wasting our hard earned taxpayer monies on trying to annihilate the wolves. What will happen if he succeeds?

Most anti wolf of idaho and wolf haters will definitely facing a problem that they’ll regret doing it and shouldn’t have done it in the first place. They’re going to go broke because they are spending stupidity, outragous, and foolish spending on wolves extermination. Those who are responsible for this scapegoat on wolf and wolfhunt in idaho including the ringleaders might face trails for their crime. I won’t forgive them for success of killing the Idaho wolves. They deserve to lock up in jail with no chance of freedom. They are worse than the nazi. They brought shame to their state and complete destroy its reputation.They, the wolf haters, should be label as anti-environment terrorists. It’ll be their downfall and would struggle to recover.

I am praying fervently every day that God will stop the wolf-haters, and stop this planned massacre of precious wildlife (these beautiful wolves).
Also, is there anyway we can watch this hearing live over the computer?
Can we also petition the Dept of Interior?
I just cannot stand the thought of this planned mass killing funded by taxpayers…truly disgusting..Steph in South Carolina

Please stop killing Idaho’s wolves, I love wolves , they are beautiful animals
end inhumane hunting , killing and other cruelty ways for wolves life, they have rights , they have feeling , and felt pain and has blood , same to mankind , Please stop and think , our nature needs wolves , wolves can help natural , and life -giving for whole planet , Please kindly love ,
respect and responsible our wolves life, this is necessary and important , please don’t late , we want real health natural and health wolves ecosystem , Please do the right things , don’t let those wildlife disappear and lost in our future,. Thank you

I am from Oregon and Recent census reports show that Oregon’s wolf population is growing. And instead of bloodthirsty demands to exterminate the growing packs, most Oregonians are celebrating the progress!
Oregon is becoming a leading light in the practice of non-lethal strategies for keeping wolves and livestock apart. Wolves are dispersing farther westward and are now residing in the Umatilla National Forest and under the watch of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
And Oregon’s most famous lone wolf, OR-7, continues to make news as he wanders along both sides of the California border!
It’s early days for wolf recovery in Oregon. But especially compared with its neighbors, the state shows great promise as a shining example of how to do wolf recovery right.

@Caroline Good news, OR-7 is no longer a lone wolf. He found a mate and is currently in Eugene, Oregon. There is reports of a den and puppies. According to Fish game and wildlife cams. Heard this on the news. Oregon is setting a great example, I hope other states will follow.

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